October could be a big month for Mac users, if a report by 9to5Mac turns out to be correct: the site claims the month will see the full release not only of OS X Yosemite, but also of a 4K iMac desktop and 12in Retina display MacBook Air.

Phew. The report claims that Yosemite will be available for download free-of-charge towards the end of October, and that the launch of new high resolution Mac computers around the same time isn’t mere coincidence: they’re a big selling point for the new operating system. Yosemite, you see, has been designed very much with hi-res displays in mind.

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Plenty of pixels

The Retina display MacBook is one we’ve already heard a lot about. Apparently it won’t replace either of the current 11in or 13in MacBook Air models, but exist on its own as a high-end option: it’ll have a 12in hi-res Retina screen and an even thinner and lighter body than the current offerings.

According to sources, Apple is confident that this model will be regarded as a major leap forward in the laptop industry. We’re already excited. Check out our MacBook Air with Retina display preview for everything we’ve heard about it so far.

The 4K iMac, meanwhile, is something we haven’t heard about before, and the rumours don’t say much about it other than that it may actually end up being a monitor rather than a self-contained desktop, and that it’s due for release in Q3 or possibly Q4 this year. So it’s clear that 9to5Mac’s sources don’t know a great deal about it – but all the same it’s intriguing news. Could this be a high-end iMac aimed at photographers and filmmakers?

We’re clamping our ears to the ground as we write this, and rest assured: if we hear any more 4K and Retina-related tidbits coming from Cupertino, you’ll be the first to know.